Flush-type mail chutes



J. H. HARDI'E FLUSH-TYPE MAIL cHuTEs oct, 3o, 1956 v 2 Sheets-Sheet l Kfer/regs Y'Z'ilead April 5. 1954 J. H. HARDIE FLUSH-TYPE MAIL CHUTES Oct. 30, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aprll 5 1954 5 United States Patent FLUSH-TYPE MAIL CHUrns James H. Hardie, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, assignor to The Canadian Cutlerr Mail Chute. Company Limited, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Application April 5, 195'4', Serial No. 421,096,

6 Claims. (Cl. 193-8) This invention relates to improvements in mail chute assemblies of the llush-type adapted to be embedded in the wall surfaces between. floor levels for conveying letters fromV the top and intermediate floor levels of a building to a, mail box located at the bottom or ground llo'or level.

The conventional flush-type mail lchute assemblies generally comprise a large number of'separate assembly elements which require numerous operationalA steps as well asl precision to assemble on the job. Moreover, in the manufacture of these separateV elements, little or no al.- lowance is made to compensate for minor variations, for example, in height between one lloor level and, another which would render an assembly unit for one oor level adaptable for all of the lloor levels where only minor variations occurred. On the contrary, precise measurements have to be taken for each floor unit assembly and the elements of each unit are constructed in the shop so that vtheir assembly on the job will conform to predetermined measurements of a floor level.

The present invention has overcome these diliiculties of construction in the shop and assembly on the job.

A particular object of this invention is to provide a chute assembly of the llush wall type comprising a plurality of chute sections, one for each lloor of a building secured to full-length angle beams, each section comprising a full-length chute channel member embedded. inl a wall? opening and. extending between a ceiling and the floor therebelow with its open face substantially llushV with the, finished wall surface, a floor connection chute extending through a flooring to cooperate with the lower end of said: channel member and the upper end of an adjacent chute section channel member th'erebelow in providing an uninterrupted passageway throughout the: length of the chute assembly, and a centrally apertured frame secured about the wall opening with portions of its inner surface overlapping marginal portions of the wall surface, said frame being separately securedto the angle beams. in said wall. for independent adjustment of theV frame in the wall' openirigA to ensure abutment of the frame with the finished wall surface.

Another object of this invention is to provide a ful-1- length channel member with an upper extension which penetrates beyond the upper end of the wall opening to surround a substantial portion of a floor connection chute located thereabove.

Afurther object is to provide a channel member upper extension with a. guide panel arranged to overlap the upper marginal portion of a front closure panel for the channel member and means carried bythe guide panel for securing the upper end of the closure panel against outward displacement relative to the channel member.

Still another object is to provide a novel arrangement for suspension of a lloor connection member from the angle beams for independent mounting of the floor connection in overlapping relation to the channel member.

A still further object is to provide `a novel support of afrontrclosnre panel against outward displacement at the lower end of the channel.

y 2,768,724 Patented Get.` 30 1956 The above androther objects, advantages and features characteristic of this invention will bey understood more readily from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in whichf Fig. l is an elevational View of portions of amail chute assembly embodying my invention. l

Fig. 2` is a sectional View taken along the lines 2 2 of Fig. l. y v p.

Fig. 3 .is a sectional View taken along the lines 3--3' of Fig. l. l C

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken along the lines 4 4' of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a chute channel member shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a spacer bracket shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a lloor connection chute shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is an elevational view 0f the floor connection chute shown in Fig. 7.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 5 generally indicates a flush-type vertically disposed, mail chute assembly which is secured alongv the length of a pair of vertically disposed, parallel angle beams 6 extending continuously through the superimposed floor levels of a building and deeply embedded inthe intervening wall between each tloor and the ceiling thereabove. Each beam 6 has one flange 7 rearwardly disposed with its surfaces parallel to the nished wall surface and the free marginal edges of the anges7 inwardly directed toward each other to provide rear abutments. The remaining flange S of each beam 6 isV directed forwardly from the outer edge of llange 7 andv at right angles to the plane of the finished wallV surface to provide opposing side flangemembers. The angle beams 6 are retained in spaced apart relation by transverse spacer bars 9 secured to the rear surfaces of llanges 7 by bolts, 10.

The chute assembly 5 is composed of a plurality of lloor sections each of which includes a rectangular floor thimble 11 which projects through an opening in a floor structure 12 and is secured between the side anges 8 of beams 6to the rear abutment flanges 7 by bolts 13. A sheet metal chute channel member 15Y extending along the length of a section of angle beams 6 intermediate a floor and the ceiling thereabove, upper andy lower front closure members 16. and 17 for said channel member 15, and a lloor connection chute 18, extending through thimble 11 to cooperate with adjacent ends of two channel members 15 of successive floor levels in forming a continuous passageway for mail delivery to. a suitable receptacle at the base of the assembly.

Each channel member 15 is formed from sheet metal which is shaped to provide an inner wall 2l) between two forwardly extending side walls 2l. Forward marginal portions of side Walls 21 are bent inwardly upon themselves to provide double-walled front marginal projections. 22, and then at right angles a short distance rearwardly of the front edge to provide inwardly projecting shoulders 23. Shoulders 23 serve as seating members for the rearward support of the upper and lower front closure members 16 and 17 when these closure membersare disposed between the front marginal projections 22 to close the open face of the channel member 15.

The upper end of each channel member 15 is provided with an extension 25 which projects into the lower end of a thimble 11 from the floor thereabove. Channel extension 25 is inwardly spaced from the defining walls of the thimble and terminates below the ceiling level. Channel member 15 is secured along its length to the llanges 7 of angle beams 6 by bolts 26 and is held in y spaced relation to flanges 7 by spacer brackets 27.

Brackets 27 are channel shaped and extend across the rear face of the inner wall of channel member 15 with the channel defining sides of the brackets projecting rearwardly against the opposing face of each of the angle beam flanges 7. Bolts 26, which extend through openings in the inner wall 20 of channel member 15 and through slots extending in from the ends of the inner wall of brackets 27, are screw-threaded into the angle beam flanges 7 to firmly secure the channel member 15 with its open face directed toward but terminating rearwardly of the wall surface.

The inner and side walls 20 and 21 define the inner and side walls of extension but the forward marginal portions of the side walls are bent inwardly at rightangles to provide flanges 28 which are inclined downward and inwardly so that the lower edges of flanges 28 are rearwardly offset with respect to the vertical plane of the channel shoulders 23. A closure plate 29 extends across the front of the extension 25 and is secured to the inner surface of flanges 28. The lower portion of plate 29 intermediate the flanges 28 has a marginal extension which is bent upwardly along the outer face of said plate to provide a depending lip 30 and then outwardly from said plate to provide a forwardly projecting flange 31. Angle clips 32 have one flange secured to the projecting flange 31 with the remaining flange of the clip extending downwardly beyond the forward edge of flange 31.

The lower ends of the channel member inner and side walls 20 and 21 are inwardly tapered, as generally indicated at 20a and 21a to assist in telescoping them within the walls of the floor connection chute 18. Chute 18 is formed from sheet metal to provide front, rear and opposing side walls 34, 35 and 36 which taper from their upper ends. The front wall 34 has an upper marginal extension which is turned downwardly to provide a depending flange 37 adjacent the outer surface of said front wall 34. The rear wall 35 is provided at its upper end with a vertical extension 38, the marginal portion of which is bent rearwardly and then downwardly. The sides of extension 38 terminates a substantial distance inwardly of the sides of the chute. The extension 38 serves to suspend the chute 18 from a cross bar 41 which is secured by bolts 42 to the abutment flanges 7 of angle beams 6 between the side flanges 8. 'I'he extension 38 is hooked over the upper edge of cross bar 41 so as to be positioned intermediate the inner edges of flanges 7. Corresponding holes 43 in extension 38 and cross bar 41 provide means by which the extension 38 may be prelocated on the cross bar 41 so that the extension will be positioned intermediate the angle beam flanges 7 and in vertical alignment so that the tapered lower end of the channel 15 will be received in the upper end of chute 18 and the lower end of the latter will be received in the upper extension 25 of the channel 15 of a floor section immediately therebelow.

The chute section between floor and ceiling is provided with a centrally apertured frame 44 including top, side and base panels 45, 46 and 47 which have their inner surfaces flatly disposed against the finished wall surface about the channel-receiving opening therein. At the inner edge of top panel a relatively short flange 48 extends rearwardly to underlie that portion of the finished wall, indicated at 49 which covers the portion of the thimble 11 which projects below the ceiling. The side panels 46 are provided at their inner edges with rearwardly directed side flanges 50 which are of a substantially greater depth than the top panel flange 48. Flanges 50 have their lower extensions 51 which extend down behind the base panel 47 and are welded or otherwise suitably secured along their forward edges to the rear face of said base panel. An angle plate 52 is secured by one flange to the inner face of base panel 47 between the extensions 51 of flanges 50 and with the free flange of said angle plate extending rearwardly adjacent the upper edge of the base panel. 'I'he free flange of angle plate S2 is of a relatively shallow depth as compared to the depth of the side flanges 50,

Frame 44 is secured about the channel receiving opening in the wall structure by adjustable U-shaped clips 55 provided with an extension plate 56 at one side. Plate 56 is secured by bolt 57 to the frame side flanges 50 and then the U-shaped clip is slidably fitted over the forward marginal portion of the adjacent angle beam side flange 8, suitable adjustment being made to bring the frame 44 into abutment with the wall surface, and then the clip is secured about the flange 8 by set screws 58.

Preferably a floor section of a chute assembly is installed by first inserting the floor connection chute 18 through the floor thimble 11 so that the lower end of chute 18 extends into the upper end of the channel extension 25 of the floor section therebelow. The upper end of chute 18 is thenanchored by means of cross bar 41 to the angle beams 6 in the manner previously set forth. Frame 44 is then secured about the opening in the wall by means of clips 55 so that the base panel 47 of the frame covers the portions of connection chute 18 and thimble 11 extending above floor level. Chute channel 15 is then inserted, upper extension end first, through the opening in frame 44, the extension 25 being elevated within the thimble 11 of the floor above until clearance is provided for the lower tapering end of the channel. The channel is then anchored along the length of angle beams 6 by bolts 26 with the extension 25 located within the lower projecting portion of the thimble 11 of the floor section thereabove so that the lower edge of clip 32 carried by front closure plate 29 is in a horizontal plane with the exposed surface of frame top flange 48, and with the tapering lower end of the channel received in the upper end of floor connection chute 18.

The upper front closure member 16, which comprises a plate glass panel 60 in a frame including hollow sheet metal side mouldings 61 and top and bottom connecting rails 62 and 63, is fitted between the front marginal projections 22 of channel 15 to bear against shoulders 23. The top rail 62 is angle-shaped and has one flange bearing against the panel 60 and the other projecting forwardly from the base of the first flange. The top rail projecting flange is butted against the top flange 48 of frame 44 with the panel engaging flange behind the depending flange of clip 32. Clip 32 serves to hold the upper portion of closure member 16 against the channel shoulders 23.

The lower end of closure member 16 is supported on a locking band bracket 65 which is secured across the open face of channel 15 between the front marginal projections 22 by screws 66. Bracket 65 has a transverse rear wall 67 having a vertical front face and a rearwardly and downwardly inclined rear face. Side arms 68 pro-I ject forwardly and upwardly from the ends of rear wall 67. Arms 68 of bracket 65 afford support to the upper closure member 16 by direct contact with the adjacent ends of the bottom rail 63. Inwardly directed locking tongues 69 are provided on the front face of rear wall 67 at the central portion thereof to be engaged by a suitable locking mechanism which projects through a central opening in a locking band 70.

The lower front closure member 17, which comprises vertically spaced glass panel sections 75 and 76 and a letter receiving pocket 77 therebetween enclosed in a frame including hollow sheet metal side mouldings 78 and top and bottom connecting rails 79 and 80, is fitted between the front marginal projections 22 of channel 15 to bear against shoulders 23. The bottom rail 80 bears against flange 52 of base panel 47. Inturned bracket extensions 82 of the tapered portions 21a of the channel side walls engage in a recess on the underside of rail 80 to secure the lower end of closure member 17 against the channel shoulders 23.

The top connecting rail 79 of lower closure member 17 -s provide-d with legsv'ss which project into the upper vchais ofxhollow sidefmoul'diugs '7-8 and are secured-thereto'by 'screws Thellower Iportion-of locking band 70 issecured `toxthevfront `face of top rail 79, lso that when the lower 'closurelmember 171is seatedagainst the channel shoulders 23, `the-.upper yportionof the locking band will overlap `the-Locking band bracket 65. A locking mechanism (not shown) carried by the locking band will engage the locking tongues A69 of the locking band bracket 65 to secure the upper and lower closure members 16 and 17' so as to prevent tampering with the mail chute. A

All of the component `elements ofthe chute assembly may be completed in the Vchute in such a manner as to 4enable easy and rapid assembly Aon the job. After the angle beams :6 have been installed in spaced relation throughout the length of the building wall structure, the thimbles are inserted through the floor openings and secured to the beams by screws 13. The wall surfaces on each floor level may then be finished Aleaving a suitable opening in the wall for the insertion of each section of the chute assembly. The floor connection chute members 18 are then inserted through the thimble and secured to the cross bars 41 carried by the beams in the manner heretofore described. Frame 44 is then inserted in the opening provided in the wall and adjustably tted to the side anges 8 of angle beam 6 by adjustable clips 55 so that the inner surface of the frame is butted against marginal outer portions of the finished wall surface with the lower edge of the base section 47 resting on the floor surface. Channel member is then inserted through the central opening of the frame so that the upper extension of the channel member projects into the lower end of the thimble extending from the floor above until the lower end of the channel member is clear of the lower edge of the frame opening. The channel member is then lowered to a point where the lower projecting edges of clips 32 are on a horizontal plane with the lower edge of the upper, inwardly directed ange 48 of frame 44. Channel member 15 is then secured to the angle beams by screws 26 with channel spacers 27 therebetween.

The above arrangement of the aforesaid component elements positions the chute assembly so as to provide a continuous passage for the delivery of mail from floor to oor to a mail box at the lower end of the assembly. The upper and lower front closure members 16 and 17 may then be fitted in position with facility. This is accomplished by iirst inserting the upper member 16 into the opening of the frame so as to lie between the forward marginal portions of the channel against the shoulders 23 with the upper end of closure member 16 engaged between the lower lip of the channel extension front panel 29 and the projecting portion of clip 42. Locking bracket 65 is then inserted beneath the lower edge of closure member 16 so as to secure the closure member against vertical displacement in the manner heretofore described. The lower panel 17 is inserted in the opening of frame 44 so that the bottom connecting rail 60 bears against flange 52 of frame 44 with the inwardly directed flanges 82 `of the lower extension of channel 15 received in the groove on the underside of rail S0. The lower closure member then may be swung so that the locking band 70 will engage bracket 65 in overlapping relation for securing the adjacent ends of the upper and lower closure members by suitable locking means.

What I claim is:

l. A flush-type mail chute assembly comprising a plurality of chute sections, one for each floor of a building, each section including a full-length chute channel member embedded in an opening in a wall and extending between a ceiling and a floor therebelow with its open face substantially ush with the finished wall surface, a plurality of front closure members supported along the length of the open face of said channel member between forward marginal portions of the channel member, a floor connection chute extending through a flooring to cooperate with the 'lower end idf said channel member and the upper fend o'f 'an adja'cent chute secs'tionehannel member therebelow 1in forming an Vuninterrupted passageway throughout the length of said chute-assembly, and an integrally formed, centrally apertured frame secured about said wall opening with portions of its-inner surface 'overlying marginal portions of theouter wall surface defining said wall-opening, said frame including a base panel extending across -`the wall opening between the floor and the lower end of the channel member and rearwardly directed anchoring flanges extending between defining walls of the .opening and the opposing side walls of the `channel member.

2. In a flush-type mail chute assembly comprising a pairfof spaced, vertical angle -beams extending throughout the length of the assembly and a plurality of chute sections, one for each oor of a building, said beams each being deeply embedded in the intervening wall between each floor level and having the marginal edge of one ange directed inwardly toward a corresponding flange of the other beam to provide rear abutments and the marginal edge of the other flange directed forwardly toward the outer wall surface and in opposed parallel relation to the remaining flange of the other beam, and each chute section including a single, full-length chute channel member embedded in an opening in said wall and extending intermediate the floor and ceiling above, means for securing the inner end of said channel to the abutment forming flanges of said beams between their forwardly directed anges, and a floor connection chute extending through a vertical opening in said floor to cooperate with the lower end of said channel member and the upper end of an adjacent chute section channel member therebelow in forming an uninterrupted passageway throughout the length of said chute assembly.

3. A chute assembly as set forth in claim 2, in which the forward marginal edges of said channel member side walls are substantially ush with the nished wall surface and in which said chute section is provided with an integrally formed, centrally apertured frame including top and side marginal portions overlying marginal portions of the wall surface adjacent the wall opening and including a base portion extending across said opening from adjacent the lower end of said chute to the floor level in front of the projecting portion of the floor connection chute above said iloor level, said frame side marginal portions being provided along their inner edges with rearwardly directed side flanges extending between the wall portion defining the sides of said opening therein and the sides of said channel member and means connecting said frame side flanges to said angle beams for securing the frame about the wall opening.

4. A chute assembly as set forth in claim 3, in which said last mentioned means comprises a U-shaped clip arranged to straddle the forwardly directed flange of an adjacent angle beam, a plate member extending forwardly from one side of said clip and rigidly secured to said frame side flange, said clip being adjustable to vary the depth of penetration of the angle beam flange between its side arms, and further means penetrating said clip to secure it to said angle beam flange in its adjusted position.

5. A chute assembly as set forth in claim 2, in which said channel member side walls are provided with inwardly directed shoulders located rearwardly of the forward marginal edges of said side walls, upper and lower front closure members tted between the forward marginal portions of said channel side walls and butted against said shoulders, said channel member being provided with an integrally formed upper marginal extension presenting side and rear Walls, and a downwardly and rearwardly inclined front wall secured to and between the side walls of said extension, said front wall having its lower marginal portion bent outwardly upon itself to provide a depending lip disposed in overlapping relation to the inner surface of the upper front closure member, the free end of said lower marginal portion of the extension front wall being bent to project forwardly from said lip, and means carried by the said forwardly vprojecting free end of said lower marginal portion of upper and lower front closure members are disposed in 15 2,260,714

butting engagement with said shoulders, means for sup'- porting said closure members against vertical movement and a ange member inwardly directed from the lower portion of each of said channel side walls to overlap the outer face of portions of'said lower closure member and to compress the lower marginal portion of said lower closure member against said channel side wall shoulders.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,122,996 Peacock Dec. 29, 1914 1,804,159 Fells May 5, 1931 1,953,485 Katz Apr. 3, 1934 Katz Oct. 28, 1941 

